Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



No. 657,092. Patented Sept. 4, |900. J. T. CUWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH T-UBE APPARATUS.

(Application led Kay 8, 1899. Renewed Max'. 12, 1900.)

(nu Model.) m 3 sheefs-sheef No. 657,092. Patented Sept. 4, |900; J. T. CUWLEY.

PNEUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application tled May 8, 1899. Renewed Mar. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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- Patnted sept. 4, |000. J. T. COWLEY. PNEUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application led May 8, 1899. 'Renewed Max'. 12, 1900A (no Model.) v a 'sheets-sheet s.

'Urvrrnn STATES PATENT Ormea.

JAMES T. COVLEY, OF LOIVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NElV JERSEY.

PNEUMATiC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

SPECHIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,092, dated September 4, 1900. Application filed May 8, 1899. Renewed March 12, 1900. Serial No. 8,398. (No model.)

To all 10700771/ it may 007206771,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. OOWLEY, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneu matic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus in which the carriers are propelled through a single tube in both directions by air-pressure behind the carrier.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a discharging and receiving terminal located at one end of the line. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the terminal on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down on the top of the terminal. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the air-passages hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the line and terminals at both ends of the line, which are similar in construction to that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the plunger hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view through the plunger on the line X X, Fig. (5.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Vhen it is desired to despatch a carrier, it is inserted into the terminal A at the inlet B, controlled bythe valve C, pivoted to the lever C', which in turn is pivoted to the terminal A at Ci and is held in its closed position by the spring C3, and the carrier passes down through the tubeD and through the valve-box D' into the despatch-tube Dit, secured to the bottom plate D: of the valve-boX D'. The valve E is then closed to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, against the valve-seat E'. This valve E is pivoted to the lever E2 at E3, and the upper part of this lever E2 is secured fast to the shaft F, journaled in the side of the valvecasing- On this shaft F and projecting downwardly is a lever F', and bearing against the lower end of this lever is another lever G', the upper end of which is mounted loosely on the shaft G2, journaled in the sides of the terminal.- On the shaft G2 is securely fastened the lever H, provided at its outerend with the roll I-l', mounted on the journal-pin Il?. Between the levers G' and H is located the spring G3 to hold said levers normally in the position shown in Fig. l relative to one another. In order that the valve E may be closed, as above described, the handle J, secured fast to the shaft G2, is moved forward toward the left from the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, moving with itthe shaft G2, to which the lower end of the lever H is secured, and through the medium of the spring G3 and the lever G' the lever F' and the valve E are moved up to close the valve E, thereby closing the tube D, which co1nmunicates through the valve-box D' with the despatch-tube D2.

Located in the pocket K and secured to the plate K' is a plate K2, provided with the hub K3, within which is mounted the plunger K4, provided at its top with the flange K5, against which the roll H' ofthe lever H bears. fithin the pocket K is mounted the piston-plunger L, held in a raised position by the spring L', as shown in Fig. l. This plunger L is provided with a hollow stem L2, to Which the valve L3 is secured by the nuts L4, and the lower end of the valve-stem L2 has an opening L5 communicating with the pocket M, which is in communication with the pressuresupply pipe M', secured to the bottom plate D3 of the valve-box D. The spring LG tends to keep the plunger Klin the position shown in Fig. l. The flange L' on the stem L2 limits the downward movement of the pistonplunger L in the pocket K. The plunger K4 is provided with a hollow passage K11 and with a circular groove K7, which communicates with the vent KG in the hub K3 when the parts are in the position shown inFig. l.

K8 is a cushion against which the flange L7 stops when the piston-plunger L reaches its lowest position. The upper curved portion A' of the terminal has an openingA2 for the passage of the carriers into a suitable receptacle.

` lugs A9 on the plate A19.

Said opening is closed by the valve Asccured to the lever A4, to which is secured the valve A0, closing'the opening A9. This Valve A5 is secured to the lever A7, pivoted at A8 to the t This balance-valve 1s similar and operates in the same manner as that shown in United States Patent No. 527,073, dated October 9, 18911.

Extending across the outlet from the terminal in the line of the traveling carriers is a lever N, mounted on the pin N', secured to the sides of the terminals, and said lever is provided with an extension N9, pivoted at N9 to the lever N4, which in turn is pivoted at No to the link N9, which is pivoted at N7 to the casing of the terminal A. The opposite end of said link is pivoted at N8 to the link N9, which at its lower end is pivoted at O to the valve-plunger O, reciprocating in the cylinder O9. On said cylinder is the plate O3 for supporting the rubber diaphragm O4, secured by the ring O5 to the plate O3. The plate O19 1s secured to tlie shaft O6 and is held in contact with the rubber diaphragm by the spring O7, the shaft O6 working freely in the support O8, and is pivoted at O9 to the pivoted catch P. This catch P is in position to engage with the iange K5 when the plunger K4 is depressed, and by reason of air-pressure in the pipe Q9, passing through the connections Q2 and Q into the circular channel Q and acting against the diaphragm O4, the catch is held in engagement with the flange K5. This pipe Q3 is connected to the air-pressure supply-pipe M2, (see Fig. 5,) which is connected to a suitable reservoir.

Assuming that a carrier has been inserted in the terminal A and is in the tube D9, the valve E is closed by the movement of the lever J, lever H,and spring G9. The movement of said lever J and lever H will push down the plunger K4 until the ports K9 are in alinement with thespaces above the piston-plunger L in the box K, at which time the valve E is closed to prevent the air-pressure escaping through the terminal. The air passing from the chamber M up through the valve-stem L2 will pass through the passage K11 in the plunger K4 and out through the ports K9 above the piston-plunger L, and by'reason of the area of this piston-plunger L being greater than the area of the valve L3, the valve L3 will be opened by the downward movement of the piston-plunger L and air will be admitted into the valve-box D and the transmitting-tube D2 and will force the carrier to the. opposite end of the line. The said air-pressure in the valve-box D will hold the valve E in its closed position (shown in dotted lines) after thelever J is released. The carrier traveling along the transmitting-tube D2 will enter the terminal at the left hand of Fig. 5, which is identical in construction and operation to that shown in Fig. 1, and in its movement around the curved portion Al of the terminal will strike the lever N, and by reason of the connections N9, N4, N9, and N9 the valve-plunger O will be raised. The lower end ot this plunger passes above the circular chamber Q, allowing the pressure in the circular chamber to escape through the bottom of the cylinder O2. The air-pressure in the pipe Q3, communicating with the circular chamber Q, is admitted through the valve S, Fig. 5, which is only slightly open to admit a very small quantity of air, so that when the plunger O is raised, allowing the pressure to escape as above described, the outlet for the air in the pipe Q3 Will be so much greater than the inlet at the valve S that the pressure in the pipe Q3 will immediately drop the Whole length of the pipe. Consequently the pressure Will be removed at the despatch end of the line from the diaphragm O4, allowing the spring O7 to exert its force to pull the catch P away from the iiange K5 on the plunger K4, releasing the plunger K4, which will immediately be raised by the action of the spring L6. This raising of the plunger K4 will shut oit the ports K9 from communication above the piston-plunger L, thus allowing the spring L to raise the plunger to the position shown in Fig. 1 and closing the valve L9, cutting oft the air-pressure from the valve-box D' and transmittingtube D9. As soon as this air-pressure is cut off the valve E will immediately drop by gravity to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, to allow the insertion of the carriers into the transmitting-tube D2. This release of the plunger K4 will move the ports K9 out of alinement with the upper part of the pocket K and will also bring the circular groove K7 into alinement with the vent K6 in the hub K3 on the plate K9. The vertical slot K19 in the periphery of the plunger K4 communicates withthe groove K7 and will in this position form a vent for the upper part of the pocket K, allowing the air to escape out through 4the vent K6. It will beseen with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 that the air-pressure from the pocket M is cut ott from the upper part of the pocket K and that also a vent is formed for the upper part of the pocket K to allow the escape of the air from said upper part through the vent K9, when the spring L' will force the plunger L,

carrying with it the val ve L9, upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby closing the opening from the pocket M and preventing the further flow of air into the despatchtube D9.

Assuming that a carrier is to be despatched at the left hand of the line shown in Fig. 5 in a manner identical to that described when sending from the right-hand end illustrated in section in Fig. 1, the carrier will pass up through the tube D9 into the tube D, around the curved portion A, strike the lever N, and through the connections N2, N4, N9, and N9 the valve-plunger O will be raised and the air-pressure shut off from the discharge end of the line as above described, the carrier by its momentum opening the valve A3 and passing out into a suitable receptacle, and the TIO valves A3 and A5 will immediately close the openings A2 and A6 and prevent the air escaping. As the carrier is traveling toward the right-hand terminal the air ahead of the carrier is forced along by said carrier and passes through the terminal, through the passages R, R', and R2, and escapes into the atmosphere by the outlet R3. This arrangement provides for carrying off the air ahead of the carrier and avoids the objectionable feature of the air blowing onto the desk in front of the operator. The valves T are located in the air-pressure supply-pipe M in order that the volume of air may be regulated.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a pneu matic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrientransmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carriers, a source of compressed air, an air-inlet for said compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, means for opening said airinlet valve adapted to be operated to open said valve upon the closing of the valve'controlling said carrier-inlet, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, and mechanism in the path of the traveling carriers adapted to be operated by the carriers to release the air-pressure on said air-inlet-valve-holding means and thereby release the same to allow the closing of said air-inlet valve.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube a-pparatus a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet aft-er the insertion of the carriers, a source oit' compressed air, an air-inlet for said compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, means for opening said airinlet valve adapted to be operated to open said valve upon the closing of the valve controlling said carrier-inlet, means operated by compressed air for holdin g said air-inlet valve open, mechanism in the path of the traveling carriers adapted to be operated by the carriers to release the air-pressure on said airinlet-valveholdin g means and thereby release the same to allow the closing of said air-inlet, and yielding means acting on said air-inletvalve-holding means for preventing the same from holding said air-inlet valve open upon the release of said air-pressure.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said outlet after the insertion of the carriers, a lever for closing said valve, a shaft on which said lever is loosely mounted, a handle fast on said shaft adapted to be mov-ed to operate said lever to close said valve, a yielding connection between said shaft and said operating-lever, a source of compressed air, an air-inlet for the compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, mechanism for opening said air-inlet valve adapted to be actuated to open said valve upon the closing of the valve controlling said carrier-inlet, means operated by compressed air for holding said airinlet valve open, and mechanism in the path of the traveling carriers adapted to be operated by the carriers to release the airpressure on said holding means and thereby release said air-inlet valve to allow the closing of said air-inlet.

4. In a pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carriers, a source of compressed air., an airinlet for the compressed air, a valve normally closing said airinlet and provided with a hollowstem open to said compressed air and with a piston-plunger of greater area than said valve, mechanism for opening said air-inlet valve, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, means for establishing' communication between said source of compressed air and one side of the piston-plunger to open said air-inlet valve by the air-pressure acting on said piston-plunger, mechanism adapted to be operated by the traveling carriers for breaking said communication by releasing the air-pressure on said lease the same to allow the closing of said airinlet, and means for returning said piston plunger to its normal position. t

5. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carriers, a source of compressed air, an airinlet forsaid compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet and provided with a hollow stem open to said compressed air and with a piston-plunger of greater area than the valve, mechanism for opening said air-inlet valve, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, a plunger movable in said hollow stem and having passages for leading the compressed air to one side of the piston-plun ger of greater area than the valve to open said valve by the pressure acting on said plunger of greater area, meehanism for closing said carrier-inlet valve and for moving said plunger in said stem to esn tablish the said communication for the compressed air, means operated by compressed air for holdingv said plunger in said hollow stem to maintain said communication for the compressed air to hold said air-inlet valve open, and mechanism in the path of the trav'- eling carriers adapted to be operated by the carriers to release the air-pressure on said IOO IIO

lrS

air-inlet-valve-holding means and thereby release the same to allow the closing of said airinlet valve.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carrers, a source of compressed air, an air-inlet for said compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, means for opening said air-inlet valve adapted to be operated to open said Valve upon the closing of the valve controlling said carrier-inlet, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, a Valve for controlling the escape of the compressed air acting on said air-inlet-valveholding means, and mechanismin the path of the traveling carriers adapted to be operated by the carriers to move said valve to release the air-pressure on said air-inlet-Valve-holding means and thereby release the same to allow the closing of the said air-inlet valve.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carriers, a source of compressed air, an air-inlet for said compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, means for opening said air-inlet valve adapted to be operated to open said valve upon the closing of the valve controlling said carrier-inlet, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, and mechanism for releasing the airpressure on said air-inlet-valve -holding means to release the same to allow the closing of the air-inlet valve.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a carrier-transmitting tube having an inlet and an outlet for the carriers, a valve for closing said inlet after the insertion of the carriers, a source of compressed air, an air-inlet for said compressed air, a valve normally closing said air-inlet, meansoperated bycompressed air for opening said air-inlet valve upon the closing of the valve controlling said carrier-inlet, means controlling the flow of compressed air to said Valve-opening means, means operated by compressed air for holding said air-inlet valve open, and mechanism for releasing the air-pressure on said air-inlet-Valve-holding means to release the same to allow the closing of the said air-inlet valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of May, A. D. 1899.

JAMES T. OOVVLEY.

Witnesses:

C. A. STEWART, A. L. MESSER. 

